will they strike this time
Industrial Action at North Airports
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30 May 2008
Industrial action by members of the Unite trades union may disrupt air travel in the Highlands and Islands in coming weeks.
Highlands and Islands Airports Limited was formally notified by Unite today (Friday 30 May) that it will be calling its members out on 24-hour strike action on 9 June and 4 July. The move comes after the union rejected the company’s 2007/08 pay award.
Of the 135 ballots recently issued by Unite, 74 were returned in favour of industrial action, 28 against and the remaining 33 not returned – representing a 55% vote in favour of action, equivalent to 23% of the company’s total workforce.
Unite’s membership at HIAL is principally made up of non-managerial grades within the Airport Fire Service (AFS) which provides mandatory rescue and fire-fighting cover at its airports.
HIAL operates 10 airports in the north and west of Scotland at Barra, Benbecula, Campbeltown, Inverness, Islay, Kirkwall, Stornoway, Sumburgh, Tiree and Wick. Dundee Airport, which is operated by HIAL via a subsidiary company, is not affected by the threatened strike action. Unite has also agreed that its members will provide cover for air ambulance and search and rescue flights during the action.
As a company wholly owned by the Scottish Government, HIAL is subject to the UK Government’s cap on public sector wages and was limited to a maximum 2% pay increase for 2007/08. This award, effective from 1 October 2007, was fully backdated and implemented in the company’s May salary payments.
HIAL’s senior management met the union’s full-time official and staff representatives on 29 May to discuss the situation but was ultimately advised by the union that it would proceed with industrial action. Further talks have been offered and the option of independent arbitration.
A spokesman for HIAL said: “Industrial action, backed by only 55% of Unite’s membership in the ballot – equivalent to 23% of the total workforce – will just serve to disrupt travellers and the airlines.
“We understand that 2% may be a disappointing award in today’s economic climate but, viewed in the round, HIAL offers excellent terms and conditions of employment with earnings within the AFS well above the Scottish and regional averages.
“Clearly, we will do all that we can to avoid strikes closing airports but we have no more money to offer and no remit to do so. We are now preparing contingency plans to minimise wherever possible the impact of any strike action.”